JP2871999B2 - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feeder, and more particularly to a paper feeder for feeding continuous paper between a print head and a platen of a printer by using a tractor for feeding paper from a paper tray mounted outside. The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that allows the user to visually confirm that a sheet is being conveyed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 2, a sheet feeder of this type is provided with a platen 1 and a print head 2 in a box 4, and feeds a sheet between the platen 1 and the print head 2. Print with. First, when printing a cut sheet, the cut sheet is fed from the cut sheet insertion slot 16, and the cut sheet is guided toward the print head 2 by the feed rollers 20A and 20B and the platen 1. The cut sheet for which printing has been completed is discharged to the outside from the paper discharge port by the rotation of the discharge rollers 21A and 21B. Next, the continuous paper insertion / ejection mechanism will be described. The continuous paper 17 mounted on a tray or the like from the outside is inserted from the left side of the box 4, and the end of the paper is set on the protrusion of the tractor 14 which engages with the feed holes provided on both sides of the paper. When the operator completes the setting of the paper, an external motor (not shown) is started to activate the motor gear 9 and the transmission gear 10.
The drive gear 11 is driven via a and 10b. The tractor 14 rotates the drive shaft 13 as an axis to feed the set continuous paper 17, and feeds the platen 1 and the print head 2 through a paper path 8 provided between the upper paper guide 6 and the lower paper guide 7. It is sucked in between.
Here, a support shaft 16 for rotatably supporting the tractor 14 and a drive shaft 13 for driving are mounted on the tractor frame 15A and are semi-fixed to the box 4. Inspection of the tractor 14 and visual recognition of a paper jam or the like were performed by removing the tractor frame 15A from the box 4.

[0003]

In this conventional paper feeder for continuous paper, when the continuous paper is set, the end of the paper is set on the tractor by putting a hand through a narrow gap on the side of the box of the printer. Operation, and there is a disadvantage that operability and visibility are poor. Also,
Since the tractor frame is semi-fixed to the box, there is a possibility that problems such as inspection of a paper jam of continuous paper and engagement of gears for transmitting power to the tractor may occur. Further, there is a disadvantage that the floor area occupied by the tractor frame increases.

[0004]

A sheet feeder according to the present invention comprises a pair of left and right tractors for feeding continuous sheets fed from the outside, a drive shaft for rotating one end of the tractor, and the other end of the tractor. A paper feeder comprising: a support shaft rotatably supported; and a tractor frame that forms a part of a box of the paper feeder that holds the tractor and rotatably holds the drive shaft and the support shaft. A hinge portion provided on the front surface of the box and serving as a rotation fulcrum; and the drive shaft being rotatably mounted inside the hinge portion and opening the tractor frame to the front surface at least 90 degrees around the hinge portion as a rotation center. Features.

[0005]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the sheet feeding device in an unused state, and FIG.
(B) shows a sectional view in a used state. FIG. 1 (a), (b)
2, the same reference numerals as those in the conventional example of FIG. 2 have the same configuration and function. That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the shaft 13 of the drive gear 11 of the tractor 14 is
2 housed. The hinge portion 12 is fixed to the tractor frame 15, and by rotating the hinge portion 12, at least the tractor frame 15 shown in FIG. The structure is The tractor 14 is housed in the tractor frame 15, and in the use state of FIG. 1B, the end of the continuous paper from the paper tray can be easily visually recognized.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the tractor frame 15 of the tractor 14 is not in use, as shown in FIG. 1A, the tractor 14 is housed in the front of the printer without any unnecessary protrusions from the box 4. That is, not only does the tractor frame 15 have a small structure so as to form a part of the box 4, but also it is possible to reduce the installation space of the printer device when the tractor 14 is not used. Since single-sheet printing is possible in the retracted state of the tractor 14, the front surface of the printer device is blocked by the tractor frame 15, so that noise due to printing can be reduced. In a state in which the tractor frame 15 is opened by rotating in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1B, the tractor 14 is supported by the drive shaft 13, and the drive shaft 13 and the tractor frame 15 are rotated about the drive shaft 13. The hinge portion 12 is rotatably attached. Here, the hinge portion 12 is provided on the box body 4, but may be attached to another component as long as the drive shaft 13 is at the center of rotation. A drive gear 11 is coupled to the drive shaft 13, and a gear meshes with the motor gear 9 via transmission gears 10a and 10b. That is, the rotation of the motor gear 9 causes the drive gear 11 to rotate, and further the drive shaft 1
3 rotates and drives the tractor 14. Since the center of rotation of the tractor 14, that is, the hinge portion 12, matches the center of rotation of the drive shaft 13,
The drive gear 11 always meshes with the transmission gear 10b regardless of whether the tractor 14 is opened or closed. As described above, since the continuous paper is set with the tractor frame 15 opened in the direction of arrow A, the visibility of the tractor 14 and the handling of the continuous paper are improved. In addition, the continuous paper is fed between the print head 2 and the platen 1 through the paper path between the upper paper guide 6 and the lower paper guide 7 by an operation from the operation unit 5, and is fed from the paper discharge port 3 after printing. Is discharged. In addition,
The tractor 14 may be provided with a lock mechanism for maintaining an open state in order to stably convey the paper.

[0007]

As described above, the present invention has a structure in which the tractor frame can be opened and closed about the drive shaft as a rotation center. The tractor can be housed in the section to reduce the installation floor area. Further, when continuous paper is fed, the visibility is improved.
Further, when the tractor is used, there is an effect that the power transmission gear can be rotated and opened without disengaging the power transmission gear from the tractor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional sheet feeder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Platen 2 Print head 3 Paper discharge port 4 Box 5 Operation part 6 Upper paper guide 7 Lower paper guide 8 Paper path 9 Motor gear 10a, 10b Transmission gear 11 Drive gear 12 Hinge part 13 Drive jaft 14 Tractor 15, 15A Tractor frame 16 Support shaft 17 Continuous paper

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of left and right tractors for feeding continuous paper fed from the outside, a drive shaft for rotating one end of the tractor, a support shaft for rotatably supporting the other end of the tractor, and the drive shaft. A tractor frame that rotatably holds a shaft and the support shaft and forms a part of a box of the sheet feeding device that accommodates the tractor, wherein a fulcrum provided on a front surface of the box; A sheet feeder, wherein the drive shaft is rotatably mounted inside the hinge part and the tractor frame is opened to the front at least 90 degrees around the hinge part as a rotation center. 2. The box body is substantially sealed in a state where the outer surface of the track frame is rotated and closed so as to be flush with the front surface of the box body, and the occupied floor area of the box body is reduced. 2. The sheet feeder according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is reduced.